One-third of the total 14.3 trillion dollar deficit, 4.6tn, is money that we owe ourselves. And, while our children are hungry, we are going broke to pay, an institution of our own creation, money that we owe only to ourselves.Eric LaMont Gregorysee article entitled 'Agenda' from menu above

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Not All Military Apparel Made in Americaas long as the Berry Amendment is on the books, it ought to be complied with “There’s nothing that prevents other manufacturers from re-basing their operations in the United States if they want to compete for this market,’’ Eric LaMont Gregorybased on an article in the The Boston Globeby Dustin Ensinger on July 17, 2011 - 1:52pmSome New England lawmakers are asking the Pentagon to answer questions about why certain service branches have received waivers to a law that requires all pieces of military uniforms to be American made. Yes, all pieces of US Military uniforms are to be American made, and with 100% American inputs. This year long battle was given added urgency when both the House and Senate, despite the Berry Amendment and its inclusion of certain specialty metals, woke to find that the US Military was dependent on specialty metals form China even for our missle guidance systems. Both houses of the US Congress introduced bills, HR 6160 and SB3521, to address the impact a shortage of these specialty metals will have on our economy and our military preparedness (see article: China flexes its rare earth muscle) By necessity, and determined by the Pentagon itself, waivers to the all-American requirement can be instituted if to do otherwise would caused a delay in production. Since 1941, and the Berry Amendment, 10 U.S.C. 2533a, as amended in the 2007 and Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Acts, 10 U.S.C. 2533b, a soldier’s entire uniform, including training equipment, was required to be made entirely in America.Two years ago, however, a Department of Defense policy change allowed many service branches to stop issuing tennis shoes for training and instead began issuing vouchers and allowing service members to purchase training shoes on their own.That move has left many northeastern lawmakers scratching their heads. Some of whom represent the only all-American shoemaker left, New Balance.No other shoe company, including many of the most popular brands, have any trace of an American manufacturing presence left.“The reality is that we have American soldiers fighting on our behalf, who represent this country with great pride, dignity and professionalism, and I think are proud to wear American-made products,’’ Representative Niki Tsongas told The Boston Globe.Lawmakers are now demanding answers from the Pentagon about why a waiver to the long-standing amendment was granted. Lawmakers have yet to receive a solid answer in over a year.“There’s nothing that prevents any of the other shoe manufacturers from re-basing their operations in the United States if they want to compete for this market,’’ Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine told The Boston Globe. “As long as the Berry Amendment is on the books, from my perspective it ought to be complied with.’’Last September, lawmakers passed an extension of the Berry Amendment that added even more items to the list, but apparently overlooked shoes used for training.The legislation requires the U.S. Department of Defense to purchase a range of domestically produced items with 100 percent U.S. content. The measure mainly covers items made of fabric, including clothing, tents and tarpaulins. The law applies to the recently created Department of Homeland Security as well.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), passed on February 13, 2009, included legislation mandating that any textile and apparel products contracted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) be manufactured in the United States with 100 percent U.S. inputs. US Senatorial candidate Eric LaMont Gregory is asking the Ohio State Legislature to pass, and Governor Kasich to sign, a bill requiring that all materials used by all those forces falling under the command of Governor Kasich in his role as Commander-in-Chief be purchased from domestically produced items with 100% American content and inputs.